Manchester United and Liverpool to battle for £100m Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham – Paper Round

United target Bellingham move

Manchester United are targeting a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, though a bidding war for the 19-year-old could push the final fee to £100 million. While other teams such as Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City could offer him an easier path to titles, the Telegraph report that United will tell Bellingham that they can offer the chance to be part of a title-winning side from the ground up.

Paper Round’s view: This is a gamble for United, but it’s the best they have got. Bellingham could go to any club in Europe and dominate football for the next decade. The best hope that United have is that they can persuade Bellingham that if he joins another, better team then he will struggle to get regular time on the pitch, which is an essential requirement for a player at his age.

United still keen on De Jong

The Mail also comment on United’s interest in bringing Jude Bellingham to Old Trafford, but they include details on Erik ten Hag’s desire to bring Frenkie de Jong to the club. Ten Hag failed to persuade the Dutchman to join from Barcelona in the summer but United believe that the £80m deal can be resurrected and he could still be open to making the switch to Old Trafford.

Paper Round’s view: Bellingham is clearly the outstanding player at the moment and most sides would prioritise signing him, but there is only one club who will be able to secure him. De Jong is not quite the same kind of player, but he is an excellent one, and with Fred almost certain to leave United at the end of the season, then they may be sensible to try for more than one midfielder.

Palace sweat on funds for winter

Crystal Palace hope to sign a few players this winter but they may have to focus on finding free transfers, cheap deals and loan transfers as they look at part-owner John Textor’s next move. The American is hoping to close a deal to side French side Lyon, and The Sun reports that in order to complete that purchase, funds for Palace may be redirected elsewhere.

Paper Round’s view: Palace are 11th in the Premier League and they’ve impressed under Patrick Vieira. However if Textor is short on funds to secure then they will potentially suffer. After a break in the Premier League, there is a risk that some clubs will lose their early season momentum and enter freefall, which is especially tough to turn around without transfer intervention.

Bellingham also wanted by Liverpool

As well as Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid, the Mirror believes that Liverpoool are the favourites to land Jude Bellingham, with the young midfielder’s father favouring a move to Anfield. There are also problems for Real in affording the player, given they have spent £60m on teenage striker and have to redevelop their own stadium.

Paper Round’s view: Jurgen Klopp desperately needs to improve his squad after a season that is threatening to go off the rails. However there are still plenty of brilliant players at Anfield and adding a midfielder of Bellingham’s quality would help them spark their next campaign into life. The only threat to Liverpool’s pursuit seems to be if Real Madrid reallocates the money for Kylian Mbappe.